Electric switch.



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ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 13, 1913.

1 10,65. Patented Jan. 2,1917.

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CHARLES J. KLEIN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB, TO THE CUTLER:HAMMER MFG. CO., OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES J. KLEIN, a citizen of the United States. residing at Milwaukee. in the county of Milwaukeeand State of lVisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description. reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to electric switches.

It has among its objects to provide an improved double pole panel board switch wherein a plurality of switch mechanisms of the type described and claimed in my copending application. Serial No. 623,903, filed April 28, 1911, issued May 23, 1916, as Patent No. 1,184,104, are used to make and break the circuit at a plurality of points with a quick snap action.

A further object of my invention'is to provide a switch of the double pole push and pull. type in which the positionof'the switch is indicated by the position of the operating member in such a manner astobe readily apparent to the operator at a glance.

Other objects and advantages of my improvement will hereinafter appear.

In order that my invention may be clearly and fully disclosed, I have illustrated one embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the switch in position on a panel board, the casing being shown in section. Fig. 2 is a central sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. I

The device includes a reciprocable operating member 1 provided on its opposite sides with cam members 2 of the hill and valley ty e described in the above mentioned apphcation. These cam members actuate movable contact members 3 pivoted u on spindles 4 protruding from the vertical sides of a two-part base 5, and upon a predetermined movement of the cam members act to make or break the circuit connections at resilient contacts 6, connected in the opposits sides of the line. An insulating casing 7 incloses the switch mechanism and is provided with an opening in its top through which the operating member 1 is reciprocated.

As in my prior application above mentioned, the cam members 2 are provided with oppositely disposed concave and convex surfaces which are preferably struck up from a single piece of metal. The ends of 1 these cam members are provided with extensions 8 which are suitably fixed to the inner beveled end of the operating member or knob 1, as for instance by a sleeve 9. The spindles 4 are disposed at right angles to the movement of the-cam members and are suitably supported in the parts of the base 5. A quick snap action is imparted to the contacts 3 by means of a coiled spring 10 surrounding the end of each spindle 4. In order to guide the operating member 1 a suitable guiding member 11 may be provided which is movable in a suitable slot between the parts of the base 5. As illustrated, (these two parts of the base are held together by means of a bolt 12. Upon opposite sides of the extremities of the bolt 11 the contacts 6 are fixed to the base by means of screws or bolts 13. In a preferred construction the contacts 6 are resilient and their contacting ends are slightly bowed and provided with the substantially areshaped contact surfaces. The lower or noncontacting ends of these contacts are provided with bent-over portions 14 extending substantially at right angles to the contacting portions thereof and clamped to the parts of the base 5 by means of the screws 13. In order to establish connections be tween the line and the contacts 6, substantially L-shaped plates 15 are also secured to the parts of the base 5 by the screws 13, the outer ends of these plates being connected to the conducting parts 16 upon thepanel board by means of suitable screws 17, In order to facilitate the connections thereto the adjacent ends of the bus bars are preferably bent up as shown.

When it is desired to operate the switch it is only necessary to depress the operating member 1 to simultaneously make or break the circuit connections upon both sides of the line. Upon the depression of the operating member the cams 2 are forced downward, causing the movable contact members 3 to be rotated with a quick snap action about the spindles 4 and under the impetus of the coiled spring 10. Obviously, when the handle is pulled out the reverse action will take place In order to suitably house the switch mechanism I have provided an insulating casing 7 which is substantially cup -shaped and adapted to. fit snugly over the operating parts of the switch -mechanism. If desiredthis casing may be provided with one or more resilient catches 18, which are adapted to snap over the lower ends of the base 5 in order to hold the casing securely in position thereon. As illustrated, an opening 19 is preferably provided in the top of the casing 7 to permit the reciprocation of the operating member 1. In order to readily indicate to the operator the condition of the switch, I preferably form the knob or operating member 1 of black material at its extreme outer end and encircle the same near its inner end, on the sleeve 9, with a band of white material 20'. In this manner I am able to provide a very clear visual indication of the condition of the switch 6, since,

assuming that the switch is on, that is, when the knob l is pulled out, not only the black,

end thereof but also the white band thereon is visible. On the contrary, when the knob is pushed in, as when the switch is in off position, this white band is hidden within the cover of the switch.

I have provided a switch of the push and pulltype, which is readily adapted to use as a double pole switch on panel boards of standard measurements and manufacture, without the necessity for a rearrangement or redesign of the parts. In attaching the on each side of the line with a quick snap action. Further, the parts of the switch mechanism are exceedingly simple and may be manufactured at small expense.

I claim 1. In a double pole switch device, in combination, a fixed insulating block, two separate snap switch mechanisms mounted on opposite faces thereof, a separate reciprocable actuating member for each of said mechanisms, and-a common operating member for said actuatin means.

2. In a dou le pole switch device, in combination, a fixed insulating block, separate snap switch mechanisms mounted on opposite faces thereof, separate reciprocable actuating members for said mechanisms, a common operating member for said actuating members and guiding meansfor said operating member extendmg into an inter mediate face of said block and sliding therewithin.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES J KLEIN. Witnesses GEO. MENER, CHAs. A. SCHOWALTER. 

